From the Principal…
Dear CMS families:
I admit it had been a long time since my last Disco. However I was blown away by the attendance and spirit at our school party last Friday. I would like to extend a thank you to Brigid Lombard for organising the disco and all of the parent and student volunteers that made the event so special. It was a tremendous representation of our school’s spirit and sense of community. I look forward to more special events throughout the year.
As I look back on the first term of 2010, a lot was accomplished. Our new building project was completed and the grand opening is now behind us. The new premises have given a boost to our Parent Toddler Program and our Art, Music and Korean specialist classes. I have enjoyed the recent discussions with staff on student transitions, I believe the conversation at our school about what constitutes student readiness at each level will ensure that we are putting the right emphasis on the development of each individual child. In Term 1, cycle 3 students learned what it was like to be a turn of a century convict while cycle 2 children explored the local art gallery. More exciting excursions are planned in term 2.
As I look ahead to Term 2 there are more opportunities for parents to get involved at the school. We have our Open Day for new families on May 15th and Working Bees and Parent Education Evenings scheduled for the middle of the term. In addition the staff has put together a few fun after school clubs to begin in second term, more details will follow soon; look for a signup sheet to come out during the last week of the term.
On a personal note, moving across the world can be challenging, and on behalf of my entire family I would like to thank the CMS community for welcoming the Rice’s to our new home.
Peace
Jack Rice
Principal, CMS
Upcoming Dates
TERM 1 2010
Apr 2 Public Holiday – Good Friday
Apr 5 Public Hoilday – Easter Monday
Apr 7 NEW Eucalyptus excursion Drill Hall ANU
Apr 9 Last day of Term 1
TERM 2 2010
Apr 26 Public Holiday – Anzac Day
Apr 27 Children return to school
Apr 28 NEW Cycles 2/3 Musica Viva Concert 1.20pm
May 11-13 NAPLAN Testing
May 15 Open Day
May 18 Montessori Information Evening
May 24-28 Open Sessions
May 30 Working
Jun 3 Parent Education Evening 7pm
Jun 11 Pupil Free Day – Montessori Conference
Jun 14 Public Holiday – Queen’s Birthday
Jun 30 Canteen Day
July 2 Last day of Term 2
Please check the Bulletin regularly for changes to published events.
Term Dates for 2010
Term 1: 3 February – 9 April
Term 2: 27 April – 2 July
Term 3: 20 July – 24 September
Term 4: 12 October – 15 December
Red Gum News
On April 24th 2010 Red Gum parents will be running a fundraising Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings Tuggeranong from 8am to 4pm. Come along and support us by buying a sausage sandwich.
Lost Property
Please make sure all your child’s items are clearly named. Lost property found on the oval or outside classrooms is kept by each class. Any items found between the car park and classrooms can be handed in to the office. In both cases the lost property will be kept for a maximum of two weeks after which it will be given to charity.
Diana Griffin (Acacia assistant) is retiring next Friday. CMS would like to express our gratitude to her for her immense contribution to the growth of CMS.
Diana joined CMS in 2001 and worked with Sharmini and then Sarah at the Hackett campus. We then loaded up the moving truck (at the end of 2003) and moved the class to Holder and became Acacia.
She has been an integral part of Acacia and has helped out nearly every other class in the school, including going on Cycle 3 camp last year. Her generosity, kindness, patience and good humour will be sorely missed but the light at the end of that ‘retirement tunnel’ is that she will be available for staff relief so we will all bump into her again.
A massive thank you for all the big (and more importantly) small things you have contributed to CMS over the last 9 years. Enjoy your lazy days ahead.
Visiting the School
As the school grows and we have more visitors, we need to be sure we have consistency over the procedures which ensure your children’s safety. For this reason, if parents or other family members are visiting the school for reasons apart from pick up and drop off, such as attending a performance or open session, please be sure to sign in at the office and get a ‘visitor’ sticker to wear during your visit.
Building Maintenance Position
We are very happy to announce that we have a new staff member, Michael Rose, who will be working around the school every Thursday morning looking after all the numerous maintenance issues that occur.
Fire Alarm
All families please note that they should remain in the car park until given the all clear by the Principal if there is a fire alarm.
Choice
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The following is an excerpt from "Getting Your Money's Worth: Your Investment in Montessori", by Edward Fidellow
Choice is the quintessential action of life. Start at any point in your day, your week, your year or your life and ponder the place of choice. What you eat, where you go, what you do - all are choices. Some choices have more importance than others but all choices (and even non-choices) have one thing in common - they cause something to happen.
The essence of Montessori life - of all life - is to teach our children to make wise choices. The challenge for parents and teachers is to allow children to make choices - and let them live with the consequence of their choices. This can only be done in an environment that is safe, accepting, and encouraging to choice makers. These premier environments should be home and school.
The sad reality of life is that so many people are incapable of making choices - wise or otherwise. They have never received adequate practice to give themselves the confidence to make wise choices. A major success principal of life is that when you make a choice and it proves to be a poor choice you can always make another choice. Yes, there are consequences to every choice - some better than others - but the principal of choice is to learn how to come to the right choice - and it is often by trial and error. It takes tremendous confidence in the first place to make a choice.
Is there a cost to all of this? Of course. For youngsters, it is mostly a cost of time, which they seem to have in abundance. As they get older, the costs become both monetary and social. Eventually, the cost becomes one of opportunity. Make the wrong choices and certain opportunities are not available to you - getting a job that requires a degree and you don't have one; not making a good first impression etc.
Life is full of choices. What will I eat? What will I wear? Where will I live? Where will I work? Who will I marry? Being able to make wise choices takes time and practice. That is what a Montessori environment offers your child.
There are many kinds of choices. Making wise choices has a lot to do with priorities. Learning how to choose to do what is important first is crucial. Then there is the ultimate wise choice (especially when I don't have any choices) and that is to choose my attitude. The whole Montessori environment is a life laboratory for children to practice and learn how to make wise choices.
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What is a "Craft Bloom"?
A clubbing together of 'art and crafter' people
to admire, make, and learn to make, lovely handmade objects. In our case, it's also to raise funds via the Art and Craft stall at the CMS Spring Fair.
We are meeting fortnightly at our homes and at school. We've a variety of simple, complex and middling projects for the necessary restocking of the fair stall, all of which can be worked over the wintery months ahead of us.
To be in it, simply RSVP to Jodie at jodiemama40@yahoo.com.au
phone 0450520303, 6287 5509 or drop a note to Paasonen@Banksia
AUSKICK
If any parents are interested in registering their child for an AUSKICK program we have some information at the office for 8 or 9 year olds that maybe interested